As investigations into the murder of Haresh Singh of West Coast Berbice continues, investigators from the Major Crimes Unit have arrested three persons.
Sources yesterday told Stabroek News that during the course of Wednesday, the men were arrested and are currently in police custody assisting with investigations. No other information has been released regarding the investigation at this time.
The Guyana Police Force last night in a statement said that it “notes the mischievous and misleading narrative that is being peddled via Social Media in relation to the whereabouts of one of the suspects who is in custody for murder committed on Haresh Singh.
“The GPF wishes to assure the general public that the suspect was, at all material times, in lawful custody assisting the police with the investigation.
“Finally, details of the ongoing investigation will be made public as soon as the investigation is completed and legal advice obtained”.
Yesterday, relatives of Singh complained that they remain in the dark on the progress of the investigation and were only made aware that persons were taken into custody after a social media post. They said at the last update from the police, they were told that the investigation remains active.
Just last month, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had informed that ranks from the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crimes Unit and the Region Five Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were collaborating on the investigation.
Seventeen-year-old Singh, also known as ‘Raj’, of Lot 8, Number 3 Village, West Coast Berbice, was found with head injuries and chop wounds along the No. 2 Village backdam on September 9, 2020.
Singh left home on his motorcycle to tend to his farm in the backdam of No. 3 Village.
Sometime after, his relatives saw smoke rising from the backdam and left to investigate. They discovered the body of Singh lying motionless. His nose was bleeding. His motorcycle had also been burnt.
An autopsy later concluded that he died as a result of brain hemorrhaging and blunt trauma to the head, compounded by compression injuries to his neck.
Singh was murdered days after teenage cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry were slain. Singh’s murder was believed to be a reprisal killing as several of his relatives had been initially held in connection with the murder of the cousins.
During the investigation into Singh’s murder, a number of persons were detained for questioning. However no charge has been laid.
Blanhum had previously told Stabroek News that “all of the police efforts and resources will be dedicated to bring the matter to finality.”
In late February, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon had met with Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie and senior members of the force to discuss a number of issues.
Following the meeting, Harmon had told reporters that the investigation into the death of Singh was raised and the police had signalled that they are hopeful of securing a conviction in the case although no timeline was given.
Over the past few months, relatives of Singh staged a number of protests calling for justice.
They said that they were tired of waiting on the police to make a breakthrough in the case. The latest protest was held outside of the Office of the President.
The relatives had said that they were beginning to think that the matter has been forgotten.
“It looks like the police give up, but we the family we will not give up. We need justice for Haresh,” a relative, who wished not to be named, had said.
